Kate Middleton's sister Pippa and Chelsey Davy among guests at fairytale aristocratic wedding in Harry Potter castle
It was something of a dress rehearsal for Pippa Middleton and Chelsy Davy yesterday as they attended the society wedding of Lady Katie Percy, the 28-year-old daughter of the Duke of Northumberland.
As the bride tied the knot with financier Patrick Valentine, 30, at the romantic setting of Alnwick Castle - which doubles as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films - eyes were also on the women who will take pride of place at the Royal Wedding.
Pippa, 27, who will be maid of honour to big sister Kate, looked stylish in a frilled jacket and pink lace dress, topped with a fuschia fascinator.
Glamorous: Kate Middleton's sister Pippa, left, and Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsey Davy, right, were among the guests at the wedding of Lady Katie Percy
Miss Davy, 25, walked to the ceremony wearing an electric blue dress and navy overcoat.
The on-off girlfriend of Prince Harry is rumoured to have been invited to the wedding in April.
Lady Katie, the bride, is an unconventional aristocrat – she trained with Royal gunmakers Purdey & Sons and set up a business making stocks for guns.
She travelled the short distance down Bailiffgate, Alnwick, in Northumberland, from the castle to St Michael's Parish Church in a restored horse-drawn carriage.
Speculation that Prince William and Kate Middleton - who are friends of Lady Katie - were due to attend meant there were around 20 photographers waiting outside.
But there was no sign of the couple who will marry in nine weeks' time.
Jane Wood, who taught Lady Katie and her siblings at prep school in Alnmouth, said: 'It's lovely to see them all grown up, going their own way and doing their own thing.'
Stand out: Miss Davy wore a similarly striking blue dress and black feathered fascinator
Picturesque: The reception was held at her family's Alnwick Castle, which doubles as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films
One wedding guest, having a pre-service whisky in the Oddfellows Arms, said the groom had been fishing this morning.
The guest, from Oxfordshire, said: 'He caught two salmon. They might be served at the banquet tonight.'
Meanwhile, Prince Harry was at Twickenham with his cousin Zara Phillips to see England defeat France 17-9 in the Six Nations. Both wore flat caps bearing the cross of St George.